UPSC Mains 2020 GS Paper 3 Q20: model answer

India's western and eastern land borders carry very different threats. In Punjab, the BSF fights drones dropping heroin at night. In West Bengal, it watches cattle and fake-currency smugglers on riverine stretches. In the Kashmir valley, the Army watches the LoC for infiltrators.

Myanmar border (about 1,643 km)

• Insurgent camps, arms and drug trafficking from the Golden Triangle.
• Refugee inflows after the 2021 coup; arms flows linked to the Manipur violence.
• Guarded by the Assam Rifles.

Bangladesh border (about 4,097 km)

• Illegal migration and fake identity papers.
• Cattle, gold and fake currency smuggling, and drugs like yaba.
• Human trafficking of women and children.
• Radical groups like the JMB.
• Guarded by the BSF.

Pakistan border (International Border)

• Drone drops of drugs and weapons in Punjab and Jammu.
• Cross-border tunnels in the Samba and Kathua sectors.
• Narco-terror networks linking smugglers and militants.
• Guarded by the BSF.

Line of Control

• Infiltration of terrorists into J&K.
• Ceasefire violations; a renewed understanding was reached in February 2021.
• BAT raids by Pakistani forces and terrorists.
• Under the Army, with BSF units under its operational control.

Role of the security forces

• Army: guards the LoC and runs counter-infiltration.
• BSF: Pakistan and Bangladesh borders, with flag meetings with the Bangladesh BGB.
• Assam Rifles: Myanmar border and counter-insurgency.
• SSB and ITBP: Nepal, Bhutan and China borders.
• State police, NIA and NCB follow up on crime networks inland.

Gaps

• Unfenced riverine and hilly stretches.
• Coordination between forces, intelligence agencies and states.
• Local complicity in smuggling in some border villages.
• Fatigue and overstretch of personnel posted for long spells in harsh terrain.
• Slow rollout of smart fencing under CIBMS.

Each border has its own crime; each force must know its ground, and all must share one picture.